Metallic fence



(No Model.)

G. P. PURDIE.

METALLIC FENCE.

No. 348,499. Patented Aug. -31, 1886.

F iff W M M M a ct IV'JTJV'ESBE INVENTOR @h, I I V 7 attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PURDIE, OF DETROIT, li'fICHIGAN.

METALLIC FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,499, dated August 31, 1886.

Application filed February 6, 1886. Serial No. 191,053. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. PURDIE, of Detroit, county of \Vaync, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Fences; and I declare the following to a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic fences, and has for its object the construction of the pickets and rails in such a manner that the pickets will screw into all the rails of the fence to hold them in position.

It has been common heretofore to engage the lower end of pickets into the lower rail by screwing one into the other; but my invention contemplates the construction of the pickets with projecting serew-threzuls at the points where they pass through the upper rails also, the pickets being enlarged at the points of their intersection in any of various ways, and the enlarged parts screw-threaded so as to be engaged in the upper rails, which may be screw-tapped to receive them. The bottom part of the pickets maybe threaded in the usual man ncr, or may be riveted or secured to the lower rail in any desired manner.

I carry out my invention as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a fence illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 represents a modification in elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the'same. Fig. 4 is an elevation of another modification. Fig. 5 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a cross-section of the same. Fig. 7 illustrates another modification; Fig. 8, a cross'scction thereof; Fig. 9, another separate view.

A represents a bottom rail, B the top rail, and C an intermediate rail.

D represents a long picket adapted for engagement with all said rails; D, one of the shorter pickets. These pickets are all constructed with screw-threads projecting from the outer surface of the picket at the points of their intersection with said upper and intermediate rails, as shown in Fig. 1 at a a.

My invention contemplates,as coming within its scope, any manner of constructing the pickets with said outstanding thrcadsas, for instance, as shownin Fig. 9. The pickets may be upset at the points where they are to intersect said rails and screw-threads out upon the exterior of the extended portions of the picket which are caused by upsetting the same at the proper points. This upsetting may be donein the line of the picket, causing a boss upon the same at the place where it is to intersect the rail. Thisis asimple form of construction and illus trated in Fig. 9. The same effect may be secured in a satisfactory degree by forcing inward a part of the circumference of the picket at the desired points, and thereby forcing outward other parts of said circumference in various forms to constitute a projecting surface sufficient to form a thread upon it by revolving thepicket against a suitable die-as, for instance, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Thepoints where the picket intersects the rails may be pressed into star shape, as shown in Fig. 8, the projecting points being screw-cut, as shown in Fig. 7, the object being simply to raise sufficient metal upon the surface of the picket outside its general circumference to locate thereon a screwthread or a fraction of the same, for it is unnecessary, especially in the construction of cheap fences, that the thread should surround the picket, what is needed being simply to provide at such points sufficient threads or fractions thereof to engage with the rails and hold the rails in position. My invention contemplates any cngagement of this kind which may be found adapted for the purpose.

In Fig. 5 the intersecting portion of the picket is shown forced into the shape of a flattened ellipse, as shown in cross-section, Fig.6, the outermost edges being screw-cut, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or the metal of the picket at the intersecting points of the upper rails may be shaped into a triangular form, as shown in Fig. 3, and its edges screw-cut, as shown in Fig. 2. Any of these various illustrations embodies the principle of my invention, which contemplates the slipping of the pickets through thcholcs in the upper rails until the ex tended screw-cut surfaces come in contact with therails when the pick ets are screwed into place to engage the rails. It is readily seen that such a construction is not expensive. It is evident that the picket will be held sufficiently firm in the rails; also, even if the thread is imperfect upon the embossed parts of the pickets, as shown in various modifications illustrated in the drawings. It -is evident, also, that it will not be necessary in all kinds of fences that every picket should be thus constructed with an outstanding screw-threaded boss at the point of its intersection with the rails, as it is sufficient that the rails be held moderately firm, and this is accomplished by constructing a portion of the pickets in the manner described. Neither do I confine myself to any particular style of rail nor to any definite number of them. Any variety of picket may be used that may be found adapted for the purpose. In constructing the fence in this manner the pickets may be screwed into place, the rails being held in any proper manner in their particular position. It will be convenientto make the pickets in this manner of malleable metal.

What I claim is 1. A metallic fence consisting of the upper, lower, and intermediate rails having screwthreaded sockets, and the pickets each pro- 25 vided with raised or laterally-proj ecting screwthreaded parts respectively engaging the screw-threaded sockets in the said upper and intermediate rails, substantially as shown and described. 7

2. A metallic fenceconsisting of upper and lower horizontal rails, the upper rail or rails formed with screw-threaded sockets,and pickets having their lower ends secured to the lower rail and their upper portions formed 5 with raised or laterally projecting screwthreads engaging the screw-sockets in the upper rail or rails, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. PURDIE. 1

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODoGHER'rY. 

